Is Earlobe Reduction and Repair Painful?

The surgery is generally well-tolerated, as you will be given local anesthesia. Recovering can be a little uncomfortable, but not painful. Most patients only require a day or two of over-the-counter pain medicines to manage any discomfort.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

Two to four appointments are standard for earlobe reduction and repair, but the exact number of appointments will be determined during your first appointment, a consultation at our office in Berkeley, CA. You will only need one surgical appointment and a couple of follow-ups so that Dr. Chou can monitor your progress.

How Long Until I See Results?

You’ll notice immediate improvement after your surgery. If torn earlobes were addressed, they would be sutured together. Tissue is permanently removed during earlobe reduction, which also yields immediate results. Results become final after about 4-8 weeks, depending on the extent of the correction and your ability to heal.

How Soon Can I Travel After Earlobe Reduction and Repair?

Travel guidelines include waiting 1 week before short flights and 2 weeks before long flights. Cabin pressure increases risks like swelling, bruising, and bleeding. You can drive immediately after surgery.

What Are the Risks Associated with Earlobe Reduction and Repair?

We always make sure our patients understand the potential risks they may experience during their earlobe reduction and repair journey. Some of these risks include: Swelling Bruising Redness Bleeding Visible scarring Infection Asymmetry Overcorrection Re-tearing of the earlobe

Earlobe Reduction and Repair

Earlobe Reduction and Repair In Berkeley, CA

Restore Shape, Size & Symmetry

Expert Earlobe Reduction and Repair In Berkeley, CA

The skin on your earlobes is noticeably thinner and more delicate than the skin on the rest of your body. They are composed of areolar and adipose connective tissue, making them soft, pliable, and easy to pierce. These characteristics make them prone to tearing, stretching, and sagging, which can happen from injuries, wearing heavy earrings or gauges, or natural aging.

If one or both of your earlobes are torn, stretched, or larger than you want, you can get earlobe reduction and earlobe repair at Redwood Facial Plastic Surgery. Here in Berkeley, we serve patients throughout the East Bay and greater San Francisco area to help them reduce the size of or repair their earlobes with little to no downtime.

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What is Earlobe Reduction and Repair?

Earlobe reduction and repair are both cosmetic procedures performed under local anesthesia to reshape and correct the lower part of the earlobe. Earlobe reduction resizes overly large or sagging earlobes, while earlobe repair fixes tears and stretching.

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Earlobe reduction is a minor cosmetic surgery that reduces the size of overly large, stretched, or sagging earlobes. Individuals who seek this procedure have earlobes distorted due to natural aging, genetics, or consistent use of heavy earrings or gauges.

Who Are the Best Candidates for Earlobe Reduction and Repair?

Earlobe reduction and repair in the San Francisco area helps patients who have some or all of the following:

Torn, split, or stretched earlobes
Uneven or abnormally large earlobes
A desire to improve the symmetry of your earlobes with the rest of your ears
Good health
Reasonable expectations
A non-smoking lifestyle

What Are the Benefits of Earlobe Reduction and Repair?

Earlobe reduction and repair each offer several benefits to help you feel more comfortable and confident in your ears. Depending on which procedure you get, you can achieve some of the following benefits:

Restoration of intact earlobes that were torn or stretched
Improved earlobe strength
Ability to wear earrings again
Natural-looking ears
More youthful ear appearance
Minimal pain and easy recovery
Permanent results

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How to Begin Your Earlobe Reduction and Repair Journey

To ensure your aesthetic and cosmetic goals are met, you must first schedule a consultation with Dr. David Chou, our double Board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon. Our office is located in Berkeley, CA, just outside San Francisco.

Describe your aesthetic and cosmetic ear goals
Dr. Chou will take a thorough look at your ears and facial proportions
You will walk through the details of the procedure that aligns with your goals, so you understand what you are signing up for
Dr. Chou will show you before-and-after photos to establish reasonable expectations
Review your medical history
Craft a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs and goals

What to Expect on the Day of Earlobe Reduction and Repair Surgery

On the day of your surgery, you’ll be warmly welcomed back to our East Bay office in Berkeley, just outside San Francisco. You’ll be led to our procedure room, where Dr. Chou will review your treatment plan with you. You can ask any lingering questions you may have before the surgery begins. Both procedures use local anesthesia to numb the treated areas and ensure you don’t feel any pain.

Earlobe reduction involves removing a small wedge of tissue or trimming excess skin from the lower portion of the earlobe, depending on your anatomy. The remaining earlobe tissue is carefully reshaped and connected with sutures, resulting in a smaller, more proportional ear contour.

Earlobe repair involves cutting away excess stretched skin or the healed, scarred edges of a tear and suturing the tissue together to create a natural-looking appearance.

You can drive yourself home after the procedure and return to most regular activities.

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Combining My Earlobe Reduction and Repair with Other Procedures

If you have any other concerns about your facial profile you’d like to address, you can let Dr. Chou know during your consultation. Many of our Berkeley patients choose to combine the following procedures:

Otoplasty

The goal of an otoplasty, or ear pinning surgery, is to reshape, reposition, and resize the ear so it is more proportionate to your other facial features, such as the nose, eyes, and mouth. When combined with earlobe reduction or earlobe repair, you can address both the projection of the upper ear and the size or shape of your earlobes.

Rhinoplasty

Rhinoplasty is a surgical procedure that reshapes, resizes, and reconstructs the nose. It is performed to improve facial harmony and the cosmetic appearance of the nose or to improve its function to help patients breathe better. When paired with earlobe reduction and repair, you can achieve synergistic results, such as a well-balanced, proportionate profile and improved proportions.

Earlobe Reduction and Repair Recovery

Your Guide to Post-Earlobe Reduction and Repair Care

Your earlobes will be mildly swollen, slightly red, and bruised immediately after your surgery, which can be uncomfortable. You are encouraged to take over-the-counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help you manage these symptoms better.

You will have stitches in the ear that will be removed 1 week after the procedure. Do not submerge your ear in standing water and avoid swimming, hot tubs, baths, and oceans for at least 2 weeks while the incision heals.

You can resume short walks or normal activities the same day as your surgery, but you should avoid strenuous exercise, heavy lifting, and bending over for 1-2 weeks to prevent increased swelling and throbbing.

Sleep with your head elevated and lie on your back to avoid putting pressure on your ears. You can re-pierce your ears after about 3 months, and the new piercing should be placed at least 3 mm from the old scar to prevent another tear.

How Much Does Earlobe Reduction and Repair Cost in Berkeley, CA?

The cost of earlobe reduction and repair in Berkeley depends on a few factors, including the type of surgery (earlobe reduction or repair), the extent of the surgery, whether you add any procedures to your treatment plan, and the surgeon’s experience.

You will discuss these factors in further detail during your consultation with Dr. Chou to receive your personalized quote.

Why Choose Dr. Chou?

Dr. Chou takes pride in delivering the most compassionate and high-quality care to his patients and is proud to serve the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Dr. Chou previously served as academic faculty at Emory University School of Medicine, where he was actively involved in training and educating fellows, residents, and medical students. His academic pursuits have led him to author dozens of research publications and book chapters as well as present at numerous national surgical conferences. He is currently investigating novel technologies and innovations in facial plastic surgery.

Dr. Chou is double board-certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS) and the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (ABO-HNS) and is a member of both the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS).

He also holds several clinical recognitions, including:

2026 – Castle Connolly Top Doctor
2026 – Physician of Excellence Platinum Award, Emory
2025 – Atlanta Magazine Top Doctor
2025 – Castle Connolly Rising Star
2024 – Press-Ganey Excellence in Patient Care Award (99th Percentile in Patient Satisfaction Nationally)

Earlobe Reduction and Repair FAQ’S

We always make sure our patients understand the potential risks they may experience during their earlobe reduction and repair journey. Some of these risks include:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Redness
- Bleeding
- Visible scarring
- Infection
- Asymmetry
- Overcorrection
- Re-tearing of the earlobe

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